The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-09-07

A Cadet Who Went Safely Through West
Point ON His Muscle.
From tho Detroit Tribune.l

Point ON His Muscle.
From tho Detroit Tribune.l
At the close of the war in 1866 q
young captain of the eng neer corps
asked for and obtained an appointment
as cadet at tho military academy at
West Point. 1t may be said there was
nothing strange in this, as many young
volunteer officers, DESTROYS of having a
West Point training, were doing the
same thing. But the young captain
In question was destined to make a
record at the academy which was un-
heard OF in the long eyentful history
OF the institution, and which to this
day stands out singly and alone. He
was handsome, sturdy-built, active,
manly fellow VII br ght complexion
and looked the very picture of good
health, good spirits. and dauntless
courage. His parents were wealthy
New orkers, and he had enjoyed the
benefits of a thorough gymnastic train
ing. do had also made a courageous
officer IN the engineer corps, and dean
onstrated that he was able TO take care
OF himself in any emergency. But
this, of course, was unknown to the
cadets.
On first reporting the "plebes" are
CHARTERED for few DAYS in "the angle
of the barracks, and during release
from quarters in the evening the old
cadets visit the gle and amuse them
selves "deviling" or "hazing" the
plebes. AS matter of course, the
room occupied by the young captain,
with six or seven others, was visited by
three or four of the old cadets. When
they entered the door the occupants of
the room, except the captain, sprang
to their feet and assumed the position
of attention" knowing they were ex-
pected to do so. The captain was seat
ed on a trunk reading book, and
merely glanced to see who the callers
were and kept on reading.
you plebe there on the trunk, what's
your name?" Numbered one of the Old
cadets.
wells W. Leggett, SIR" quietly an
swered the captain.
"Why in - don'ty stand atten-
tion,' Mr.. Leggett?"
81 don't wish to, sir"
"You don't, Ell! You plebe! Well,
then, I'll make you wish to-"
ht IL IuSi lOI IcRRebt,
but there was a sudden change III the
combination. 1t was loaded, and some
thing happened, but the old cadet
could never tell just how. He knew
that | eggett's book dropped on the
floor; / eggett arose from the trunk,
and he struck against the wall, ten or
twelve feet distant, falling to the floor.
His friends raised him up, and in q
very few minutes both his eyes were
black and swelling fast. 1t is prob
able that the party might have al as
saulted Leggett and used him up, but
cadets do not do such things. They
are gentlemen and be ieve in fair play.
So they led Their damaged friend
away, remarking to Leggett, "You will
hear from US again, young man."
The next day an old cadet appeared
and told Leggett lie was friend of
Mr.. Blank, and would be pleased to be
referred to Mr.. Leggett's friend, so
they might arrange the preliminaries
for a meeting. This proceeding was
in accord with the unwritten law of
the institution. No rough-and-tumble
fights on the spur of the moment are
permitted by the cadets, but when one
OF Them Is STRUCK OF lnSulleU lie SeuuS
his friend or second, who confers with
the others second. and the time is fix
ed for visit to old Fort Clinton,
where behind the ramparts a twenty
four-foot ring is pitched or marked in
the ground and the dispute settled in
those days according to the rules of
the London prize-ring-the Marquis
of Queensberry not having yet been
heard OF.
The affair of Leggett was so settled,
and his opponent went to the hospital
for repairs, while he came off without
a scratch. He was successfully chal-
lenged by nearly a score of the best
men in the corps, all of whom had &C.
casion to visit the hospital, but from
all the engage nents he only received
a couple of slight scratches in the
face, and was not incapacitated for
duty at all. 1t then became evident
that he was the best man in the corps,
and as he maintained this position
during his four years course, he
graduated with the record of the only
man who went through West Point
con his MUSCLE"
The Sultan and the Pieman.
Il. C..1 l.. d..